Mobile terminal device and program selection method

ABSTRACT

A portable terminal apparatus which can select terminal operations such as the activation of programs, the switching of the programs and the ending of the programs with a reduced number of times of operation of the operation buttons is provided. The portable terminal apparatus includes link information storage means  14  for storing therein a linkage table containing information about the linkage between operation buttons to be selected by a user and programs to be activated by the selection of the operation buttons, and an activation program monitor part  14  for dynamically monitoring the operation states of two or more programs activated at a terminal end, wherein the operation button having emitted its backlight according to the monitoring result obtained by the activation program monitor part  14  can be selected by the user, so that the programs linked to the respective operation buttons can be easily activated, switched and ended.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable terminal apparatus and aprogram select method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a portable terminal apparatus such as a cellular phone, two or morefunctions such as a telephone number retrieval function, a game functionand a camera function are allocated to their associated buttons as apreviously fixedly decided menu and, when a user selects one of thebuttons, the user can execute a desired function.

Recently, as the portable terminal has advanced in function, there hasbeen run short of the number of buttons to which the functions of theportable terminal are allocated. To resolve the shortage of the numberof operation buttons, at the present, there is proposed a portableterminal in which, in addition to operation buttons “0”˜“9”, there areprovided two or more guide operation buttons and, by using one guideoperation button, any one of two or more functions guided and displayedon the guide display part of the portable terminal can be selected.

Also, there is also provided a portable terminal apparatus in which thecolors of the backlights of guide operation buttons are linked to thedisplay colors of guides to thereby prevent the wrong depression of theguide operation buttons (for example, see the patent reference 1).

Patent Reference 1: JP2003-209610

BRIEF SUMMARY Problems that the Invention is to Solve

However, in the conventional portable terminal apparatus, the linkagebetween the guide operation buttons and programs to be activated as wellas the display colors of the guide operation buttons are allocated in afixed manner. Such conventional structure cannot be applied to aportable terminal apparatus in which the activation of executionprograms increased or decreased dynamically according to the taste of auser, the switching of tasks, the end of the execution programs and thelike can be allocated to operation buttons “0”-“9”. Also, it is alsonecessary that, besides the operation buttons (ten key) “0”-“9”, one ormore exclusive guide operation buttons should be provided separately onthe main body of the portable terminal apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable terminalapparatus and a program select method which, in an environment where twoor more programs can be executed simultaneously, can dynamically linkthe activation of programs, the switching of the programs (tasks), theend of the programs and the like to operation buttons.

Means for Solving the Problems

A portable terminal apparatus according to the invention comprises: linkinformation storage means for storing therein a linkage table containinginformation about the linkage between operation buttons to be selectedand operated by a user and programs to be activated by the selectiveoperation of the operation buttons; and, an activation program monitorpart for dynamically monitoring the operation states of two or moreprograms activated at a terminal end.

Thanks to this structure, the two or more programs to be dynamicallyactivated within the terminal can be linked to the operation buttonsprovided on the terminal, whereby switching to a program which a userwants to operate can be realized more easily through the selection ofthe operation button.

A portable terminal apparatus according to the invention has a structurethat, according to a monitoring result obtained by the activationprogram monitor part, the backlight of the operation button linked tothe program can be emitted.

Thanks to this structure, it is easy to select and operate an operationbutton corresponding to the operation state such as a state in which aprogram is under activation, a state in which the background is underoperation, and a state waiting for an instruction.

Also, a portable terminal apparatus according to the invention has astructure that the button IDs of two or more operation buttons areallocated according to the rule of any one of the activating order ofprograms to be switched by the operation of the operation buttons, theorder of the kinds of the programs, the order of the kinds of contents,and an order to be specified by a user.

Thanks to this structure, the two or more programs can be dynamicallylinked to the operation buttons to be depressed, whereby the switchingof the tasks can be carried out easily through the selection of theoperation buttons by the user.

Also, a portable terminal apparatus according to the invention has astructure that the backlights of the operation buttons are emitted inemitting light colors corresponding to the kinds of the programs or thekinds of the contents, or in an emitting light color specified by theuser.

Thanks to this structure, the operation buttons corresponding to thekinds of the programs and the kinds of the contents can be specifiedclearly, thereby being able to prevent the wrong depression of theoperation buttons.

Also, a portable terminal apparatus according to the invention has astructure that, in a program select mode for accepting the switching ofthe program under activation, the program can be switched or theoperation of the program can be changed depending on the depressed stateof the operation button, that is, depending on whether the operationbutton is depressed short or long.

In this structure, for example, when the operation button is depressedshort, “switching of the program” is carried out and, when the operationbutton is depressed long, “end of the program” or “new creation of amail” is executed, that is, the operation patterns of the programs canbe allocated to the depressed states of the operation button, wherebythe switching of the respective programs or the change of the operationsof the respective programs can be carried out directly according to thedepressed state of the operation button.

A portable terminal apparatus according to the invention has also astructure that the backlights of the operation buttons are emitted inlight emitting patterns corresponding to the kinds of the operations ofthe respective programs.

Thanks to this structure, according to the light emitting patterns ofthe backlights, the operation states of the programs can be grasped moreeasily, which can enhance the operation efficiency of an operation keyfurther.

A portable terminal apparatus according to the invention includes anoperation button with a program switching function allocated thereto;and, a control part for controlling the switching of the program throughthe operation of the present operation button.

Thanks to this structure, each time the operation button is depressedshort or long, the program can be switched, which makes it possible todisplay a desired program menu easily.

A program select method according to the invention comprises the stepsof: previously storing a linkage table containing information about thelinkage between operation buttons to be selected by a user and programsto be activated by the selection of the operation buttons in linkinformation storage means; and, dynamically monitoring the operationstates of two or more programs activated at a terminal end using anactivation program monitor part.

Also, a program select method according to the invention is a method inwhich, when two or more programs are activated, according to themonitoring result obtained by the activation program monitor part, thebacklights of the operation buttons linked with the activated programsare emitted.

Effects of the Invention

According to the invention, there can be provided a portable terminalapparatus which can provide the following effect: that is, a linkagetable showing the linkage between operation buttons to be selectivelyoperated by a user and programs to be activated through the operation ofsuch operation buttons is stored in link information storage means, andthe operation states of two or more programs activated at a terminal endare dynamically monitored by an activation program monitor part, wherebytwo or more programs to be dynamically activated within the terminal canbe linked to operation buttons provided on the terminal and thus theselection of the programs can be facilitated through the selection ofthe operation buttons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal apparatus according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the portable terminal apparatus shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a task table update procedure when activatinga program according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a program operating procedure when pressingdown an operation button according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an emitting light color deciding procedurewhen a button light emitting part emits a light according to theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a table view of a task table to be provided in linkinformation storage means according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a table view of a program table to be provided in the linkinformation storage means according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a table view of a button allocating table according to a ruleprovided in the link information storage means according to theinvention.

FIG. 9 is a table view of a button light emitting color allocating tableaccording to the kinds of programs provided in the link informationstorage means according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a table view of an operation allocating table according tothe kinds of programs provided in the link information storage meansaccording to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a table view of a light emitting pattern allocating tableaccording to the kinds of programs provided in the link informationstorage means according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a table view of a task table with contents by kinds addedthereto provided in the link information storage means according to theinvention.

FIG. 13 is another external view of the portable terminal apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a table view of a content-by-class table provided in the linkinformation storage means according to the invention.

FIG. 15 is a general view of a window-type display example of a programin a portable terminal apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a general view of a list-type display example of a program ina portable terminal apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a general view of a matrix-type display example of a programin a portable terminal apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a general view of a tag-type display example of a program ina portable terminal apparatus.

FIG. 19 is another external view of the portable terminal apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view of a program (task) switching state whenan operation button is depressed short.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of a switching state to a program selectmenu.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of a program select menu switching statewhen an operation button is depressed long.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart of a procedure for switching the display methodof a program select menu.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view of a state in which an operation buttonand a display menu are allowed to emit the light in the same color.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view of an example for displaying a programoperation in the long depression of the operation button using icons.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view of a screen division state when twooperation buttons are depressed simultaneously.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of a state in which numeral buttons arelinked to their corresponding pieces of information contained in thecontents.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view of a portable terminal apparatus in whichits operation part is composed of a liquid crystal screen.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: Portable terminal apparatus

2: Operation button

4: Button light emitting part

6: Display (Display part)

12: Link information monitor part

14: Link information recording means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now, description will be given below of a portable terminal apparatusaccording to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a portable terminal apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

In FIG. 1, a portable terminal apparatus 1 includes operation buttons(ten key) 2, for example, “0”˜“9” buttons, a button depression detectingpart 3, a button light emitting part 4, a light emission control part 5,a display 6, a screen display control part 7, a communicating part 8, amemory part 9, a program manage part 10, a button operation instructpart 11, an activation program monitor part 12, a display list createpart 13, a link information data base 14, a terminal control part 15,and a central processing unit 16.

As the operation buttons 2, besides the ten key, there are used afunction key and a side key which have been previously provided; and,instructions such as the activation and input of a program specified bya user are input to the terminal control part 15 through the buttondepression detecting part 3.

The button light emitting part 4 allows a given one of the operationbuttons 2 to emit the light in a color through the light emissioncontrol part 5. This button light emitting part 4 is composed of a lightemitting diode or the like. The light emitting part 4 functions as thebacklight to illuminate the operation button 2 so that the specificationof the operation button 2 can be facilitated.

As regards the display 6, in an environment capable of simultaneousexecution of two or more programs on a terminal, the display 6 displays,for example, three activated browsers windows and one activated mailsoftware window on the same screen through the screen display controlpart 7, or displays one selected program in the full space of thescreen.

The communicating part 8 includes an antenna and, under the control ofthe terminal control part 15, transmits and receives radio waves of agiven frequency band to and from a key station.

The memory part 9 stores therein not only a program for the terminalcontrol part 15 and a program for carrying out functions built in theportable terminal apparatus 1 but also two or more programs 91˜9 n suchas programs for browsers, mail software, transceivers and televisions.

The program manage part 10 manages the programs 91˜9 n stored in thememory part 9, while the button operation instruct part 11 gives aninstruction for the light emission of the button light emitting part 4and an instruction for the short and long depressing operations of theoperation buttons 2. The activation program monitor part 12 functions tomonitor dynamically the operating conditions of the two or more programswhich are to be activated on the terminal.

The display list create part 13 functions to create a list of two ormore programs to be displayed on the display 6 in such a manner that theprograms are rearranged according to a rule such as a rule based ontheir activating order.

The link information data base 14 stores therein a linkage table inwhich the button numbers (button ID) of the operation buttons are linkedto programs which can be activated by operating the operation buttons 2.Further, in the link information data base 14, there are also stored theemitting light colors of the button light emitting part 4 correspondingto the programs, the light emitting patterns of the button lightemitting part 4, and operations corresponding to the depressed states ofthe operation buttons 2, while they are arranged in a table.

The terminal control part 15 generally controls the respective parts ofthe portable terminal apparatus by controlling a given program. Thecentral processing unit 16 controls the terminal control part 15.

Next, description will be given below of the structures of the displaypart 21 and operation part 22 of the portable terminal apparatus 1 withreference to FIG. 2. On the display part 21, as shown in FIG. 2, thereare dynamically displayed application programs such as browsers in anarea for displaying an animation, a static image, a character and thelike.

On this display part 21, there are displayed, for example, two windowsfor the two browsers of a program ID [P1] and one window for a piece ofmail software of a program ID [p2]; and, to these windows, there aregiven numbers according to the activating order thereof.

On the operation part 22, there are provided operation buttons (ten key)B1˜B9 and, to each of the operation buttons B1˜B9, there can beallocated a program. For example, when a program is allocated to theoperation buttons B1˜B3, by depressing one of these buttons, theallocated or corresponding program can be selected.

By the way, the operation buttons B1˜B9 are also buttons which are usedto input numeric values and kana characters. These operation buttonsB1˜B9 correspond to the operation buttons 2 shown in FIG. 1 and can berespectively illuminated in blue, green, yellow, red and other colors bythe button light emitting part (light emitting diode) 4 which serves asthe backlights of the operation buttons.

Also, depending on the depressed states of the operation buttons B1˜B9,that is, depending on whether they are depressed short or long, they canbe linked to the operations of the programs. For example, when theoperation button that is allocated to the browser is pressed down for ashort time, the processing is switched over to the browser; and, for thelong depression of the operation button, the browser is ended. Also,when the operation button allocated to the mail software, the processingis switched over to the mail software; and, for the long depression ofthe operation button, in the mail software, there is executed anoperation to create a new mail. This can reduce the number of operationsof the operation buttons by the user, whereby the convenience of theportable terminal apparatus 1 can be enhanced.

Now, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a task table updating procedure when theabove-mentioned program is activated. According to the present flowchart, when activating the program, there is obtained a program class(P-ID) (Step S1) and a content class (C-ID) is obtained (Step S2); and,after then, it is checked whether there is present an empty space in thetask table or not (Step S3).

When there exists an empty space in the task table, the program class(P-ID) and content class (C-ID) are added to the task table (Step S4),and the task table is thereby updated (Step S5). Also, when there existsno empty space in the task table, the task table is not updated but theprocessing waits for the next operation.

Now, FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a program operation procedure when theoperation buttons B1˜B9 are depressed. Here, firstly, it is checkedwhether the current mode is a program select mode or not (Step S11).When it is the program select mode, it is checked whether there existsan operation button linked to the task table or not (Step S12).

When the operation button linked to the task table exists, it is checkedwhether the pressed state of the operation button is a short pressedstate or a long pressed state (Step S13); and, for the long pressedstate, a request such as a program end is transmitted to the respectiveprograms (Step S14) to thereby remove the “program select mode” (StepS16). Also, for the short pressed state, the screen is switched over toa corresponding program (Step S15).

Now, FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a task check procedure when the operationbuttons B1˜B9 emit lights. Here, when the current mode is a programselect mode (Step S21), the task table is referred to (Step S22), and itis checked whether the emitting light colors of the button lightemitting part 4 by programs are decided or not (Step S23).

When the emitting light colors are decided, the corresponding operationbuttons 2 are allowed to emit lights in emitting light colors byprograms (Step S24) and it is checked whether the check of all tasks iscompleted or not (Step S25). When the check of all tasks is completed,the task check processing is ended; and, when it is not completed, theprocessings in Step S23 and in its following steps are executed again.

On the other hand, when the emitting light colors by programs are notdecided, it is checked whether emitting light colors by contents aredecided or not (Step S26). When the emitting light colors by contentsare decided, the corresponding operation buttons 2 are allowed to emitlights in emitting light colors by contents (Step S27), and theprocessing goes to Step S25.

However, when the emitting light colors by contents are not decided, thecorresponding operation buttons are allowed to emit lights in previouslydetermined standard emitting light colors (Step S28), and the processinggoes to Step S25. And, when it is judged in Step S25 that the check ofall tasks is completed, the processing goes to the next task, where theprocessings in Step S23 and in its following steps are executed again(Step S29).

Next, description will be given below of a case in which a program isselected and executed using the above-structured portable terminalapparatus 1. When two or more programs are activated simultaneouslyaccording to the taste of a user, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, thereare displayed, on the display part 21, two browser windows and one mailsoftware window.

Also, the button light emitting part 4 of the operation buttons 2corresponding to these windows turn on. The user selects and depressesany one of the operation buttons 2 which corresponds to a program suchas a browser and mail software displayed on the display part 21.

In response to this, a browser or mail software, which is stored in thelink information data base 14 while it is linked to the button ID of theselected and depressed operation button 2, is selected and thus thewindow for the selected browser or mail software can be operated on thedisplay part 21. The program for which the operation button 2 is notpressed down is background displayed or is held in a display statewaiting for an instruction.

In this manner, when two or more programs are activated, according tothe dynamic monitor result obtained by the activation program monitorpart 12, the button light emitting part (backlight) of the operationbutton linked to the activated program is turned on to thereby be ableto facilitate the selection of the program by the user.

Next, description will be given below of an example of a table to bestored in the above-mentioned link information storage means 14 withreference to FIGS. 6 to 14. FIG. 6 is a task table to be used when twoor more programs are dynamically linked to the operation buttons to bedepressed; and, [B1], [B2], [B3] of the button ID and [P1], [P2], [P3]of the program ID shown in FIG. 2 are linked to [1], [2], [3] of thetask ID respectively.

Here, the term “task” means a program which corresponds to each of thewindows that are switched by a user pressing down the operation buttons;and, it may sometime include an ordinary task in a program operationenvironment.

In this task table, there are set the button ID (B-ID) and program ID(P-ID) that correspond to the task ID (T-ID). By the way, the number oftasks to be allocated does not depend on the number of the operationbuttons 2. Also, the operation button ID to be allocated may be not onlya numeric button but also a cross button, a function button, a sidebutton and the like.

FIG. 7 is a program table in which the program IDs are linked to thekinds of programs; and, for the [P1], [P2], -[Pn] of the program ID,there are provided browsers and mail software in such number thatcorresponds to the number of programs to be operated in a terminal.

FIG. 8 is a task table in which the button IDs are allocated accordingto a rule such as the activating order of the tasks. Here, the operationbuttons [B1], [B2], and [B3] are linked to the task [2], task [3], andtask [11 in their activating order according to the rule. By the way,the rule may be based on the sequence of the kinds of the programs orcontents, or may be based on the order that is specified by a user.

FIG. 9 is a program table in which the kinds of the programs are linkedto the emitting light colors of the button light emitting part 4. Forexample, [P1] of the program ID is a browser, and the emitting lightcolor is “green”; and, [P2] of the program ID is mail software, and theemitting light color is “blue”. By the way, the emitting light color maybe previously set in a terminal, or may be decided by specifying colorsin an HTML tag, that is, using information stored in the contents, ormay be set by a user herself or himself according to the taste of theuser.

FIG. 10 is a program table in which the kinds of the programs are linkedto the operations of the programs to be executed depending on theemitting light colors of the button light emitting part 4 and on thedepressed states of the operation buttons 2. Here, [P1] of the programID is a browser, and the emitting light color is “green”; and, for theshort depressed state of the operation button 2, it corresponds to the“switching” of the browser, and, for the long depressed state, itcorresponds to the “end” of the browser.

The term “state change” of the messenger (IMPS) in FIG. 10 means thepresence information that expresses the current state of a user. Forexample, by pressing down the operation button long, the presentpresence information can be changed sequentially in such a manner thatonline→during eating→during meeting→online one after another.

FIG. 11 is a program table in which the kinds of the programs, theoperations of the programs and the light emitting patterns are linked toeach other. Here, [P1] of the program ID is a browser, and, incorrespondence to the operation kinds “waiting for reading” and “pageupdate occurring time”, the light emitting patterns are set for“turn-on” and “blinking”, respectively. By the way, such turn-on andblinking are just an example of the light emitting pattern in order tofacilitate the discrimination of the operation button and thus there mayalso be employed another light emitting pattern.

FIG. 12 is a task table in which the button IDs of the operation buttonsare allocated to the content IDs; and, specifically, the contents IDs[C1], [C2] and [C5] are linked to the button IDs [B1], [B2] and [B3],respectively. FIG. 13 shows the contents of the programs [P1] and [P2]that are displayed on the display part 21 at the then time.

FIG. 14 is a content table in which the kinds of the contents by theabove-mentioned content IDs are linked to the emitting light colors ofthe operation buttons [B1], [B2] and [B3], respectively. Here, forexample, when the content ID linked to the program [P2] displayed on thedisplay part 21 is [C5], the “charge” for a pay TV is regarded as theclass of the content and is linked to the emitting light color “red”.This “red” color is also used as a color to warn a user that there hasoccurred a burden for the user to pay and, as the need arises, the color“yellow” can also be used instead of the color “red”.

As the kinds of the contents, there are available character stringsystem contents, image system contents, chat system contents, contentsinvolved with a time limit, and contents involved with theabove-mentioned “charge”. When judging the kinds of the contents, thejudgment is made on the assumption that the contents are generalcontents which are exchanged in the HTTP communication and the like.However, factors for the judgment of the contents kinds are not limitedto the above assumption, but there may also be used, for example, theinformation contained in the contents.

By the way, the emitting light colors can be previously set in aterminal, or can be decided according to the information that is storedin the contents, or can be set by a user herself or himself according tothe taste of the user.

Now, FIGS. 15 to 18 are respectively the general views of the displayexamples of the portable terminal apparatus 1 in which a user canspecify the allocation of the operation buttons corresponding to theprograms, and the user can reserve such allocation and can call suchallocation at user's desired timing.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the program window display on the displaypart 21 of the portable terminal apparatus 1. Here, there are displayednumbers on the windows respectively linked to the programs in the orderwhere the programs are activated, while these numbers are linked to theoperation buttons [1], [2] and [3] in the operation part 22.

FIG. 16 is a display list in which the kinds of the programs to bedisplayed in FIG. 15 (mail software, a browser (a restraint), a browser(transfer guide), and a music player are arranged and displayed in theiractivating order, while numbers given to these kinds are linked to theoperation buttons [1]˜[4], respectively.

By the way, in FIG. 15, when the positions of the windows are changed bythe user, the numbers of the programs shown in FIG. 16 are given againsequentially so as to follow such change.

FIG. 17 is a general view of a matrix-type display example of a portableterminal apparatus 1, in which the select candidates of programs to bedisplayed on the display part 21 are displayed in a matrix of 9 squaresin correspondence to the arranged portions of the operation buttons ofthe operation part 22. In FIG. 17, selectable programs are allocated tooperation buttons [1]˜[7], respectively. Also, a program display screento urge the user to select the above-mentioned programs can also bedisplayed immediately by operating the side button provided on theterminal.

FIG. 18 is a general view of a display example of the portable terminalapparatus 1, showing a tag-type display in which numbers are applied ontags displayed on a program corresponding screen in the programactivating order, and the numbers applied on the tags are linked tooperation buttons [1], [2] and [3] provided on the operation part 22.

FIG. 19 is an external view of a portable terminal apparatus 1 which canrealize a simple program (task) switching operation using an operationbutton allocated. Specifically, to the input device such as a button ora lever provided on the side surface of the portable terminal 1, here,to an operation button 31, there is allocated a program (task) switchingfunction which selects and displays programs, which can be activated,according to the order of the list of these programs list. Thisoperation button may be provided in any position, however, it should beprovided in other position than that of an operation button to which isallocated the role of the shutter of a camera or the like.

Thanks to provision of such operation button 31, for example, as thedisplay is switched from FIG. 20A to FIG. 20B, each time the operationbutton 31 is depressed short, a next candidate program can be selectedand displayed on the display part 21. On the other hand, when theoperation button 31 is depressed long, as can be seen from FIG. 21A toFIG. 21B, the display screen can be switched over to a program selectmenu.

Also, by repeating the depression of the operation button 31, as can beseen in FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C, -22(n), the program select list display canbe changed to a program select menu display, a tag display and the likeone after another. By the way, in the above description, there has beenshown an example in which the program select menu is displayed bydepressing the operation button 31 repeatedly. However, it is alsopossible to employ other display means such as means (1) for displayingthe program select menu by depressing the operation button short, means(2) for displaying the program select menu from a user menu, and means(3) for displaying the program select menu at the timing for receiving amessage.

FIG. 23 shows the procedure for switching the display method of theprogram select menu using the depression of the program select button.

In FIG. 23, firstly, it is checked whether the program select button isdepressed or not (Step S31). When not depressed, no processing isexecuted. On the other hand, when it is found that the program selectbutton is depressed, it is checked whether there exists a selectableprogram (task) or not (Step S32). When it is found that such programdoes not exist, there is displayed a message “a program under activationis not present”, thereby ending the processing (Step S33).

However, when a selectable program is present, it is checked whether aprogram select mode is set or not (Step S34). When not set, there is setthe program select mode (Step S35). Next, the default screen of theprogram select menu is displayed (Step S36) and, after then, theprocessing is ended. Also, when it is found in Step S34 that the programselect mode is set, the program select menu is switched over to the nextcandidate (screen) in a previously decided order and the next candidate(screen) is displayed (Step S37).

FIG. 24 shows a menu in which the kinds of the programs, that is, mailsoftware, a browser (restaurant), a browser (transfer guide), and amusic player are displayed while they are arranged in the order ofactivation; numbers given to these kinds are linked to the operationbuttons respectively; and, the operation buttons [1]-[4] are allowed toemit lights in the same colors as the arranged colors of the menu.

According to this menu, since the arranged colors of the menuswitchingly displayed are coincident with the emitted light colors ofthe operation buttons [1]˜[4] corresponding to these menu arrangedcolors, there is eliminated a possibility that the operation buttons[1]˜[4] can be depressed wrong, so that a user can select the menu moreeasily and more positively. In this case, when two or more programs areactivated, further different colors may be allocated to such programs.

FIG. 25 shows a display example in which the operations of programs whenoperation buttons allocated to the respective programs are depressed canbe previously noticed easily to the list of the programs to be displayedon the display part 21 using icons provided in the menu. For example,when creating a new mail, an envelope-type icon is displayed; whenclosing a browser, a window-mark icon with an x mark is used; and, whenstopping a music player, an icon with a speaker erased by an obliqueline is used. As a method for depressing an operation button, there areavailable a method for depressing the operation button long and a methodfor depressing the operation button short. In FIG. 25, these icons areshown in such a manner that they are enclosed with a thick ellipse sign.

Also, FIG. 26 shows a display example in which two or more operationbuttons (for example, buttons [1] and [2]) are depressed simultaneously.In FIG. 26, these buttons are shown enclosed with thick circle signs. Inthis case, two or more programs (for example, a browser and a musicplayer) corresponding to the depressed operation buttons can bewindow-displayed while the screen is divided to the browser and musicplayer. In structure, the detection of the operation button is one and,therefore, a phenomenon that two operation buttons are depressedsimultaneously may be solved in terms of software.

When the two operation buttons are pressed down simultaneously, a taskallocated to the operation button [1] depressed slightly earlier isactivated. After detection of the depression of the operation button,the depression of the operation button [2] is detected. When the timefrom the depression of the operation button [1] to the depression of theoperation button [2] is within a prescribed time (for example, severalmilliseconds), the specified task is regarded as “selection of two ormore items”. Thus, the screen is divided to two divisional screens andthe task allocated to the operation button 2 is activated. On the otherhand, when the time exceeds the prescribed time, it is judged thatanother task is selected.

FIG. 27 is a display example in which the operation buttons are linkedto information (for example, page number) contained in a content underdisplay. According to this example, the respective page numberscontained in presentation materials can be allocated to operationbuttons [1]˜[9] arranged in a numerical order and, therefore, a user isallowed to display a page directly by selecting the operation buttoncorresponding to the page that the user wants to display. This structurecan reduce the number of operations necessary to display the page andthus can facilitate the taking-out of information.

Further, when a part corresponding to the operation part, as shown inFIG. 28, is set for a display part such as a liquid crystal, the itemsof the program select menu screen can be set in the same arranged colorson, for example, seven-divided liquid crystal operation buttons [1]˜[7].Thanks to this, the contents of a menu to be displayed in a button unitmay not be fixed but can be changed arbitrarily and easily. By the way,when the operation buttons themselves are made to display thereoncharacter strings expressing the outlines of the items, the user candistinguish the operation buttons more easily.

The arranged colors of the liquid crystal operation buttons [1]˜[7] andthe character strings on the liquid crystal operation buttons [1]˜[7]can be rewritten arbitrarily by software according to the changes of theprograms displayed on the display part 21. Therefore, this structure isalso able to cope with the selection of the diversifying programs.

As described above, a linkage list, in which the operation buttons 2each with a backlight are linked to programs to be activated by theoperation of the operation buttons 2, is previously stored in the linkinformation storage means 14, the operation states of two or moreprograms to be activated in a terminal are monitored dynamically by theactivation program monitor part 12, and when the two or more programsare activated, according to the results of such monitoring, thebacklights of the operation buttons linked with the activated programsare allowed to emit. Therefore, the activation of the programs, theswitching of the programs, the ending of the programs and other similaroperations can be dynamically linked to the operation buttons with thereduced number of times of operation of the operation buttons. Thus, theselection of the programs can be carried out only by a simple buttonoperation.

Although the invention has been described heretofore in detail and withreference to the specific embodiments thereof, it is obvious to personsskilled in the art that various changes and modifications are alsopossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The present patent application is based on the Japanese patentapplication No. 2004-333137 filed on Nov. 17, 2004 and thus the contentsthereof are incorporated into the present application for reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A portable terminal apparatus and a program select method according tothe invention can notify a user of the operation states of two or moreprograms to be activated in a terminal through the emitting light colorsand light emitting patterns of the backlights of operation buttons,thereby providing an effect that the user can select one of theoperation buttons corresponding not only to the states of the programssuch as whether the programs are under activation or not, whether theprograms are under the background operation or not, or whether theprograms are waiting for an instruction or not, but also to the kinds ofthe programs. Thus, the invention can be used effectively in a portableterminal and a program select method.

1. A portable terminal apparatus, comprising: a plurality of operationbuttons; and a link information storage that stores information onlinkage between the operation buttons and programs to be activated byselection of the operation buttons, respectively; wherein, when aplurality of the operation buttons are selected simultaneously or withina prescribed time period, which is indicative of contemporaneousactivation of a plurality of programs associated with the plurality ofthe operation buttons if those buttons are selected during that timeperiod, the programs linked with the respective selected operationbuttons are configured to be displayed contemporaneously in a pluralityof divided sections of a display screen, respectively, and wherein whenan interval between a selection of a first operation button and aselection of a second operation button exceeds the prescribed timeperiod, the display screen is configured to display the program linkedwith the later-selected second operation button without displaying theprogram linked with the first operation button.
 2. The portable terminalapparatus of claim 1, wherein when two of the operation buttons areselected simultaneously or within the prescribed time period, twoprograms linked with the respective selected operation buttons areconfigured to be displayed contemporaneously in two divided sections ofa display screen, respectively.
 3. The portable terminal apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the prescribed time period is one second or less. 4.The portable terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the prescribed timeperiod is five milliseconds or less.